Rafael Benitez to take charge at Napoli

Rafael Benitez left Chelsea earlier this month after a six-month spell as interim manager.

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Rafael Benitez appointed as new coach of Italian team Napoli

Benitez takes over from previous coach Walter Mazzarri

Spain's Benitez was manager of Chelsea for the final six months of last season

Benitez led Chelsea to Europa League triumph a fortnight ago

Two weeks after leading Chelsea to glory in the Europa League, Rafael Benitez has been unveiled as the new coach of Italian team Napoli.

Benitez guided Chelsea to a 2-1 victory over Benfica in Amsterdam earlier this month having been appointed as the team's interim manager following the sacking of Roberto Di Matteo in November.

The former Liverpool and Valencia boss moves to Naples on a two-year deal as a replacement for Walter Mazzarri, who has taken over at Inter Milan following the sacking of Andrea Stramaccioni.

Mazzarri's Napoli finished the 2012-13 campaign second in Italy's top division, securing the team a place in next season's European Champions League. It was the club's best finish in the league since winning Serie A in 1990.

"Now that the agreement is confirmed, I can say I am very happy and very satisfied for having committed to a great club with an illustrious heritage like Napoli," the 53-year-old Benitez told his official website.

Chelsea triumphs in Amsterdam 9 photos

Chelsea triumphs in Amsterdam9 photos

Trophy time – The Europa League trophy -- that's what it was all about for Benfica and Chelsea as they went head to head at the Amsterdam Arena.

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Chelsea triumphs in Amsterdam9 photos

Up for the fight – Frank Lampard and David Luiz watch on Rodrigo wins control of the ball for Benfica. The Portuguese side dominated the opening half but failed to find a breakthrough.

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Chelsea triumphs in Amsterdam9 photos

Heads up – Chelsea spent much of the first half on the back foot with its defense constantly repelling Benfica's forceful attacks.

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Chelsea triumphs in Amsterdam9 photos

So near, so far – Benfica continued to dominate after the break and Oscar Cardozo thought he had headed his side in front only to be ruled offside. The Paraguay striker met Nicolas Gaitan's cross and nodded past Petr Cech, but the assistant referee's flag denied him the opener.

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Chelsea triumphs in Amsterdam9 photos

Fernando on fire – Despite being under the cosh for much of the game, it was Chelsea which broke the deadlock on 59 minutes when Fernando Torres raced clear to fire home in style.

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Chelsea triumphs in Amsterdam9 photos

Bolt from the blue – Torres then pulled off his best impression of Usain Bolt as the Chelsea players began to celebrate.

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Chelsea triumphs in Amsterdam9 photos

Spot on – Benfica hit back with 22 minutes remaining when Cardozo netted from the penalty spot after Cesar Azpilicueta had handled inside the penalty area.

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Chelsea triumphs in Amsterdam9 photos

Rising high – But with the game looking set for extra time, Branislav Ivanovic popped up at the death to head a dramatic winner and secure victory for Chelsea.

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Chelsea triumphs in Amsterdam9 photos

Party time – One year on from winning the Champions League, Chelsea's players celebrate with the Europa League trophy.

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EXPAND GALLERY

Germany: The new cool 9 photos

Germany: The new cool9 photos

Klopp the philosopher – Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp has won plaudits for his intelligent musings on football. "You can speak about spirit -- or you can live it," he told the Guardian newspaper this week.

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Germany: The new cool9 photos

Bratwurst bonus – The Bratwurst, a traditional German sausage, is renowned all over the world and is a big favorite with football fans.

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Germany: The new cool9 photos

Beer o'clock – Kim Kardashian is just one of a whole host of celebrities to have visited Munich's Oktoberfest -- a beer festival which is held in the city every year.

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Germany: The new cool9 photos

Merry Merkel – German Chancellor Angela Merkel is a huge football fan and will be a keen spectator at the Champions League final.

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Germany: The new cool9 photos

Stunning Sudtribune – While Dortmund's players have produced on the pitch, its fans have done likewise in the stands with a number of outstanding montages on the famous Sudtribune terrace.

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Germany: The new cool9 photos

New generation – Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira have become an integral part of Germany's new multicultural team under manager Joachim Low. The pair have established themselves as stars on the world stage with the national team and Spanish club side Real Madrid.

Victorious Vettel – Sebastian Vettel, Formula One's treble world champion, is one of Germany's most famous faces and is revered across the sporting world.

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Germany: The new cool9 photos

Waltz the winner – Christoph Waltz has become a leading name in Hollywood since winning an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in Quentin Tarantino's film "Django Unchained." Waltz is the son of a German father and Austrian mother.

Chelsea fans refused to accept him as a result of a rivalry he had had with the club while manager of Liverpool between 2004 and 2010 despite the club qualifying for the Champions League and winning the Europa League.

The Spanish coach's first job at Napoli will be attempting to keep hold of star striker Edinson Cavani who is reportedly a target for Benitez's former employers Chelsea and Manchester City.

Chelsea's Europa League triumph was the latest in a long list of major honors won by Benitez.

The Madrid native won the same tournament -- then known as the UEFA Cup -- with Valencia in 2004, as well as two Spanish league titles.

He then moved to Liverpool where he won the FA Cup in 2006, but the crowning moment of his career to date arrived a year earlier when he led the Anfield club to Champions League glory.

Losing 3-0 to AC Milan at half time in the 2005 final, Liverpool scored three second-half goals before going on to seal a dramatic penalty shootout victory in Istanbul. Liverpool also reached the 2007 Champions League final.

Benitez parted company with Liverpool in June 2010 before taking over at Inter just one week later.

His spell at Inter Milan was mixed. Benitez won the FIFA World Club Cup with Inter before being sacked in December 2010.

Fitness coach Francisco de Miguel Moreno and goalkeeping coach Vicente Javier Valero Berchili, who were both part of Benitez's backroom team at Liverpool, Inter Milan and Chelsea will join the Spaniard at Napoli.